The London 2012 Olympics may be two years away, but Beijing gold medalist Tim Brabants reckons it will go in the blink of an eye.

The Teddington-based 32-year-old only returned to full-time training in February and already has two World Cups and a European Championship under his belt this summer.

The Elmbridge Boat Club star, who has made the Royal Canoe Club his training base for the next 24 months, will need to secure qualification for London next summer and is currently preparing for this year’s Worlds in Poland in four weeks time.

And he believes his busy schedule will only make time fly quicker.

“I thought taking two years off after China would be a drag, but it has flown by and I think it is only going to get quicker,” he said.

“With all the build up and excitement towards 2012 it won’t belong before it is upon us.

“I’ve got a such a busy schedule of races this year and next, the time will just go.”

Brabants won sprint kayak K1 1,00m gold in 2008 and returned to international competition for the first time this summer and recently finished fourth at the European Championships over 500m.

He has earmarked current European and World Champions Max Hoff of Germany as a major threat for the 1,000m title this time around.

But as for the rest, they all pretty much the same as those he beat in Beijing and his is hoping he’ll be in his prime to make it a second Olympic title aged 35.

“Most of the competitors are also my friends and they have been commenting how quick I’ve been considering I’ve had so much time out,” he added.

“We’ve been doing some laboratory testing recently and have posted the best results I’ve ever had, so it shows we are dong the right things.

“It is not about results at this stage. It is about getting fit. Next year is important. It is not a disaster if I don’t win a medal at next year’s world champs providing I qualify for London.”

And what chances of winning gold on home turf?

“Winning in Beijing was as much a relief as anything, because I’d realised my potential and fulfilled the faith everyone had put in me for the previous 16 years,” he said.

“To do the same again in London in front of home support would be amazing.”

Five to follow:

The Surrey Comet will be following the fortunes of five local athletes bidding to represent Great Britain at the London Olympic Games.

Harry Aikines-Aryeteey - Athletics

The 23-year-old former World Junior 100m champion has been coming back from a hamstring injury picked at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year.

Sutton & District star Aikines-Aryeety was part of the Great Britain sprint relay team that won bronze in at the World Championships last year.

“I'll be 23 in 2012. That would be an ideal age to win a gold medal,” he said after becoming World Youth 100m and 200m champion in 2005.

Tim Brabants - Kayak

Brabants will be 35-years-old when the London Olympics start in and will be defending the K1 1,000m title he won in Beijing.

The Walton-on-Thames doctor has put his medical career on hold for another shot at glory.

“Winning in Beijing was as much a relief as anything, because I’d realised my potential and fulfilled the faith everyone had put in me for the previous 16 years,” he said.

“To do the same again in London in front of home support would be amazing.”

Mary Cohen - Fencing

Wandsworth’s Cohen is captain of the England women’s epeé fencing team and has put her medicine degree on hold to compete at the 2012 Games.

The 23-year-old is already set to take part in the Commonwealth Games later this year and is confident of medalling in two years time.

“I want to give everything to compete in the London Games. The thought of getting so much home support drives you on.

“That is my major goal. The team event is my strongest and the women are aiming to medal.”

Sophie Bray - Hockey

Former Tiffin School for Girld student Bray already has a Youth Olympics gold medal to her name and is out for more.

Esher’s 19-year-old Surbiton Hockey Club star could have been a top-grade women’s footballer but has chosen to focus on hockey.

"My dream is to play in the 2012 Games, but there is a lot of hard work to be done before that can happen,” she said.

“All I can do is keep training hard, play as well as I can and see what happens, but hopefully I can break into the senior side next year.”

Charlie Edwards - boxing

Beddington’s Edwards, who has a boxing ring in his front garden, is already on the Team GB funding pathway towards 2012.

The 17-year-old The Beacon High School sixth former is a two time ABA Golden Gloves champion and heads to the youth Olympics in Singapore next month.

“When you get to the top it makes me train harder because everyone will want to take my position, so that drives you on,” he says.

“I don’t want to just be the best in England, I want to be the best in the world.”

Sohpie Hosking - rowing

Wimbledon’s Hosking is reigning lightweight women’s doubles World Cup champion after winning the series for the second season in succession.

The 24-year-old former Kingston Grammar School student is also an AFC Wimbledon fan and even played for the club as a youngster.

“Established rowers like Andy Triggs-Hodge will look at each race largely as a stepping stone towards the Olympics. Their results are less important than their performances,” she said.

“We want to be blazing a trail. There isn’t a great history in the event, so we need to be setting the standard and be pushing the other more experienced crews further.”